Origin
Cedar Grove, NJ
Afternoon in Cedar Grove on Monday
Local time
12:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Grove, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
141.9 mi
228 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 46m
★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Grove, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ
James Kampeis
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Grove, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 141.9 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, Shore Road, Allwood Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 133.6 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71 miles from Cedar Grove, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 57m highway drive covering 141.9 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Shore Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 133.6 miles on Garden State Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 133.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Shore Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 141.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
39.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
138.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward Montclair, Nutley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
5
139.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
|
CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
141.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 56m in
|
Hutton Road
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 133.6 mi | 2h 41m |
| Shore Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Kings Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Sea Isle Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Passaic Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 133.6 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Grove, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on CR 608
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kings Highway
2
Turn straight onto NJ 83
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Trooper Bertram T. Zimmerman III Memorial Highway
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 9
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Shore Road
4
Turn right onto CR 625
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Sea Isle Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
237 ft
·
5 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
6
Continue on GSP NB Entrance 17
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
GSP NB Entrance 17
Toward GSP: garden state parkway
7
Merge onto GSP
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
9
Merge onto GSP
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi
·
58 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
12
Continue on GSP
48 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
15
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
16
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
17
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
20
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
21
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
22
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
23
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
24
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
25
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
26
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
27
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71 miles from Cedar Grove, NJ, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Grove, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedar Grove, NJ
This is one driving day of about 141.9 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cedar Grove, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 133.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71 mi from Cedar Grove, NJ · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71 miles from Cedar Grove, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 133.6 miles.
Arriving in Clifton, NJ
The final approach into Clifton, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Clifton, NJ.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.48 one way
$46.96 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $25.69 | $51.39 |
| premium | $4.92 | $27.50 | $54.99 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $31.53 | $63.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.01
Garden State Parkway
(133.6 mi)
$8.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.6 | 0 | $14.90 | $6.81 |
| Efficient EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.42 | $5.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.87 | $9.08 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Afternoon in Clifton on Monday
Local time
12:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 57m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cedar Grove, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 141.9 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Shore Road, Allwood Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71 miles from Cedar Grove, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 141.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Cedar Grove, NJ to Clifton, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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